DawgTalkers.net Forums Thread Like Summary - Congratulations Hall of Famer Joe Thomas!

The other bios are on the link

Pro Football Hall of Fame to enshrine nine in Class of 2023 | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site
https://www.profootballhof.com/news...-fame-to-enshrine-nine-in-class-of-2023/

CANTON, OHIO – Nine of the “Greatest of the Game” have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. The Hall’s 49-person Selection Committee met virtually Jan. 17 to conduct the annual vote.

The new class of Enshrinees was announced during “NFL Honors,” a two-hour primetime awards special that aired nationally Thursday night on NFL Network, NBC and Peacock. The newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are cornerback/safety RONDÉ BARBER,(Opens in a new window) coach DON CORYELL,(Opens in a new window) linebacker CHUCK HOWLEY,(Opens in a new window) defensive end/defensive tackle/nose tackle JOE KLECKO,(Opens in a new window) cornerback DARRELLE REVIS,(Opens in a new window) cornerback KEN RILEY,(Opens in a new window) offensive tackle JOE THOMAS,(Opens in a new window) linebacker ZACH THOMAS(Opens in a new window) and linebacker/defensive end DEMARCUS WARE.(Opens in a new window)

Barber, Howley, Klecko, Revis, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas and Ware learned of their election when a Hall of Famer knocked on their door. Those encounters can be seen Saturday, when NFL Network airs a one-hour special, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The families of Coryell and Riley received the news in a phone call that included Hall of Fame President Jim Porter and a Hall of Famer.

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HOF Finalist: 1 | Year of eligibility: 1
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 312
NFL Career: 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
Seasons: 11 | Games: 167
College: Wisconsin
Drafted: 1st Round (3rd Overall), 2007
Born: Dec. 4, 1984, in Brookfield, Wisc.
Outland Trophy winner as the nation’s top interior lineman and a consensus All-American following his senior season at Wisconsin … Selected third overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns … Started at left tackle all 16 games for the Browns his rookie season, finishing second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson … Known for his agility, strength and durability, he played an NFL record 10,363 consecutive snaps – a streak that ended Oct. 22, 2017, after suffering a triceps tear against the Tennessee Titans … Allowed only 30 sacks in his remarkable career, despite facing several Hall of Fame sack specialists and many team’s top pass rushers … Was the first offensive lineman in NFL history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons … First-team All-Pro honors six seasons (2009-2011, 2013-15) and second-team All-Pro twice (2008, 2012) … Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s … Well-known for his involvement in the community, he was selected as the Cleveland Browns’ Walter Payton Man of the Year three times (2010, 2012, 2016).

I pimped drafting Joe Thomas as hard or harder than anyone on the board at the time. For me drafting him was a no brainer. Now don't get me wrong. I've pimped some players who didn't turn out so well is the past too. Often times it's hard to predict a players transition to the NFL. That's why there's so many first round draft busts even among NFL GM's whose profession it is to select them.

I used to buy a lot of Browns merch but was never big on player jerseys. The only player jersey I've purchased since the browns returned in 99 has been Joe Thomas. I wore it proudly Saturday as I watched him being inducted into the HOF and watched his induction speech. He embodies every aspect of what I think a Browns player should be. Someone you can support without reservations, without compromise and without having to rationalize. He is what a legend of this team is supposed to be.

On the field off the field a great guy.
He went fishing with his dad on draft day!
Who doesnt love that guy and what he did for the Browns thru some very tuff times.
He came in day one and did his job and never complained.
One of the best